Anytime you have an opportunity to spar one of the best, you do it, and that’s what Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis did when he went to Lake Tahoe, California, to spar Canelo Alvarez, who will battle Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
‘Boots’ also gained invaluable experience for his upcoming fight when he moves up to 154 pounds to battle Uisma Lima in a final eliminator for the WBA title at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on October 11.
In April, in a unification bout at 147 pounds, Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) stopped Eimantas Stanionis in Atlantic City.
Ennis’ older brother, Derek, has been in camp with Canelo on many occasions, and the two have developed a close friendship.
“Canelo and my brother go way back,” said Ennis. “He did two training camps with him, and they are real good friends. We were just talking like it’s a regular day; that’s it.”
The Philadelphia native said he had a great time with the undisputed champion at 168 pounds.
“It was fun sparring with him,” Ennis said. “I was picking his brain, seeing what he’s got, and getting in shape for my own fight as well. He’s had almost 70 fights, turned pro at 15, so I was picking his brain, having fun, and sharpening my own tools.”
Ennis definitely got some valuable work with Alvarez. That work should help him against Lima and many of the top guys at 154 pounds.
